Amanda Day

Necropolis Session #3

Summer 2010

The orientation east/west of the tombs is common to all visigothic tombs.The head is oriented toward the west and the

feet to the eastGraves should be marked somehow by wood,

stacked rocks, or small barrows.There are two basic elements of the tombs:

pits and coverings

Bath: Rounded smaller sides in the shape of a semicircle. They are typically found in ground limestone.

Trapezoidal: Adapted to the human body. The portion with the skull is wider than that by the feet

Anthropomorphous: Similar to trapezoidal except with a semicircle by the skull.

Rectangular: Most commonDe Codo: Much like the rectangular except the

center of the long sides form an irregular hexagon.

The use of materials to line the pit was determined by what was available

Cista style tombs are the most common types of tombs found with limestone.

Limestone can be replaced by slabs of slateReused parts of marble from a nearby building BrickTileMortar with a high concentration of lime was

also used, but very rarely.

Slabs of square limestone arranged other smaller constructive elements, it is most common

Slabs of well carved limestone, placed dry on the pit, used in small number of tombs.

Slate Slabs: exactly like the cover of limestone slabsTile

Row of tile supported on the edges of the pit, sometimes united with mortar 

Double covering of tile: The bottom sits on the borders of the pit and the second is over the back of the other.

Mix Formed by slabs and tile. This type of covering

combines both materials. Formed by slabs and bricks.

Two-Pronged Coverings

Preparation of the body through washing and covering the body with a shroud.

Transfer to the tomb accompanied by the funeral crowd of relatives and friends.

Deposition in the tomb was regarded as homecoming of the individual and a place of permanence of the soul.

Funeral banquet: held the ninth day and marks the end of the funeral. It's time in which the community expressed their sorrow for the loss of one of its members.

Mourning by family for the memory of the deceased. Mourning women were especially important in remembering the deceased.

Memory through inscriptions in tombstones.

Face up/arms outstretched. Face up/arms and feet crossed. Double: 2nd. Buried face up/arms on the

pelvis, 1st buried package bone. Face up/arms across the chest. Double: 1st and 2nd superimposed in face up

position.